Tactical Support Wing

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Tactical Support Wing
U.S. Navy Reserve Tactical Support Wing aircraft in flight near Key West, Florida (USA), on 4 February 2021 (210204-N-RB420-0015).JPG
Tactical Support Wing aircraft in flight, 2021
Active1 April 1970 – present
(53 years, 6 months)
CountryFlag of the United States.svg  United States
BranchFlag of the United States Navy (official).svg  United States Navy
Role Adversary training [1]
Electronic warfare [1]
Part of United States Navy Reserve
Garrison/HQ NAS JRB Fort Worth, Texas [2]
Engagements Operation Deny Flight
Insignia
Tactical Support Wing emblem TSW Emblem.svg

The Tactical Support Wing (TSW) is one of three reserve aircraft wings of the United States Navy. The wing reports to the Commander, Naval Air Force Reserve. It is headquartered at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas along with the reserve's Fleet Logistics Support Wing (FLSW). The third reserve wing is the Maritime Support Wing (MSW) which is headquartered at Naval Air Station North Island, California. The wing's primary mission is operational and training support for active forces. It is composed of five flying squadrons.

Contents

The wing was established on 1 April 1970 as Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (CVWR-20). It was later redesignated to its current name on 1 April 2007. [3]

It is the Navy Reserve's only tactical wing since the 1994 disestablishment Reserve Carrier Air Wing 30 (CVWR-30). [3]

Subordinate units

Current squadrons

The Tactical Support Wing consists of five squadrons as of May 2021: [1]

Former squadrons

Dates of assignment to the wing are shown in parentheses

History

An A-4 of VA-205 lands on USS Saratoga, June 1975 A-4L VA-205 CV-60 NAN9-75.jpg
An A-4 of VA-205 lands on USS Saratoga, June 1975

The wing was established on 1 April 1970 as Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (CVWR-20) along with fellow reserve wings Reserve Carrier Air Wing 30 (CVWR-30) also on 1 April 1970 and Reserve Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group 70 (CVSGR-70) and Reserve Antisubmarine Carrier Air Group 80 (CVSGR-80) both on 1 May 1970. CVWR-20 and CVSG-70 were aligned with the U.S. Atlantic Fleet and CVWR-30 and CVSGR-80 with the U.S. Pacific Fleet. All four wings were established as part of a plan to create a mirror image of the active duty units, after previous years saw the reserve units fly outdated aircraft that also had to be shared with the Marine Corps Reserve. [3] [11] [9] The two CVSGRs were disestablished in June and July of 1976 and CVWR-30 was disestablished on 31 December 1994 leaving CVWR-20 as the only remaining sea going reserve air wing. [3]

CVWR-20 was initially composed of VA-203, VA-204, VA-205, VFP-206, VAW-207, VAQ-208, VA-209, and VA-210. [9] The wing's five VA squadrons were atypical as active component air wings consisted of two VF and three VA squadrons. VA-209 and VA-210 were replaced by VF-201 and VF-202 and were disestablished in 1971. In October 1977 VAQ-209 was established as the wing's Tactical Electronic Warfare squadron. The wing's original VAQ squadron, VAQ-208 though designated VAQ operated KA-3 Skywarrior tankers (not the EKA-3B electronic warfare variant) and in 1979 it was redesignated VAK-208 to reflect that reality. VA-204 (now designated VFC-204) is the only squadron which was established with the wing and remains a part of it today.[ citation needed ]

In June 1975, the wing deployed aboard USS Saratoga (CV-60), composed of VF-201, VF-202, VA-203, VA-204, VA-205, VPF-206, and VAQ-208. The squadrons conducted carrier qualifications alongside units from CVWR-30. [7]

A-7B Corsairs of VA-203, VA-204, and VA-205 aboard USS Carl Vinson, June 1982 A7B CVW20.JPEG
A-7B Corsairs of VA-203, VA-204, and VA-205 aboard USS Carl Vinson, June 1982

In July 1989, CVWR-20 deployed aboard USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN-69) for a 10-day cruise, earning the captain's praise and achieving a 94 percent boarding rate. [3]

On 1 October 1992, CVWR-20 took over control of VFC-12 and VFC-13. Both squadrons were previously assigned to the Fleet Logistics Support Wing. [12] In November 2006 VFC-13's permanent Key West detachment was established as VFC-111 and was added to the wing. [13]

The 1994 disestablishment of CVWR-30 left CVWR-20 as the only reserve air wing capable of deploying to carriers, with a fleet of F/A-18 Hornets, operated by VFC-12 and VFC-13, as well as E-2 Hawkeyes, part of VAW-77 and VAW-78, making up the wing. [3]

Tactical Support Wing aircraft in flight, 2009 US Navy Tactical Support Wing aircraft in flight 2009.JPG
Tactical Support Wing aircraft in flight, 2009

In 2003, members of the wing's VFA-201 deployed as part of Carrier Air Wing 8 aboard USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71). [5]

In 2006, the wing conducted operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, with VAQ-209 deploying to Al Asad Air Base, Iraq, for three months. VAW-77, at the time the Navy's sole expeditionary E-2 squadron, conducted drug interdiction operations in the Caribbean. In addition, the squadron provided command and control for hundreds of aircraft during the search and rescue operation in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. [6]

On 1 April 2007 CVWR-20 was redesigned Tactical Support Wing in recognition of the wing's change in function from its original mirror image of an active component carrier air wing able to deploy aboard aircraft carriers to its current function of operational and training support for active forces. At the time of the redesignation the wing consisted of six squadrons: VFA-204 which was the original CVWR-20's VA-204, VAQ-209 which was established into the wing in 1977, VFC-12 and VFC-13 which transferred into the wing in 1992, VFC-111 which was established into the wing from VFC-13 in 2006, and VAW-77 which had been established in 1995 specifically to support the United States Coast Guard and other Federal Agencies in interdicting illegal drug trafficking through the Caribbean Sea and across the southern border. VAW-77 was deactivated in March of 2013 leaving the wing with its current five squadrons. By 2022 VFA-204 was the sole remaining squadron in the Navy flying the F/A-18C Hornet. [14] In October of 2022 it retired the Hornet from Navy service, was redesignated VFC-204 and received VFC-13's F-5 Tiger II aircraft as VFC-13 transitioned from the F-5 to the F-16C Fighting Falcon. [15]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-201</span> Military unit

The VFA-201, Strike Fighter Squadron was an aviation unit of the United States Naval Reserve based at Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas (USA). It was established in 1970 as part of Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (CVWR-20) and deactivated in 2007. During its service VFA-201 could be identified by the tail code "AF" and nose numbers (MODEX) in the "100" series, typically 100 to 113. The squadron's nickname was the Hunters.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFC-13</span> Military unit

Fighter Squadron Composite 13 (VFC-13), also known as the "Fighting Saints", is a fighter squadron of the United States Navy Reserve that provides adversary training at NAS Fallon, Nevada. VFC-13 uses "Bogey" as its main radio callsign.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFC-12</span> Military unit

Fighter Squadron Composite 12 (VFC-12), also known as the "Fighting Omars", is a United States Navy Reserve fighter squadron based at NAS Oceana. It provides adversary training to East Coast Navy air wings. VFC-12 reports to Tactical Support Wing, a component of the Naval Air Force Reserve. The "Fighting Omars" are manned by selected reservists, full-time reservists (FTS) and active duty personnel.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier air wing</span> Group of aircraft units operating from an aircraft carrier

A carrier air wing is an operational naval aviation organization composed of several aircraft squadrons and detachments of various types of fixed-wing and rotary-wing aircraft. Organized, equipped and trained to conduct modern US Navy carrier air operations while embarked aboard aircraft carriers, the various squadrons in an air wing have different but complementary missions, and provide most of the striking power and electronic warfare capabilities of a carrier battle group (CVBG). While the CVBG term is still used by other nations, the CVBG in US parlance is now known as a carrier strike group (CSG).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-34</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Squadron 34 (VFA-34), also known as the "Blue Blasters", is a United States Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet strike fighter squadron stationed at Naval Air Station Oceana. They are a part of Carrier Air Wing 11 and are attached to the aircraft carrier USS Theodore Roosevelt. Their tail code is NH and their radio call sign is "Joker".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VF-202</span> Military unit

Fighter Squadron 202 (VF-202) nicknamed the Superheats was an aviation unit of the United States Naval Reserve initially based at Naval Air Station Dallas, Texas. Following that installation's BRAC-directed closure, the squadron relocated to nearby former Carswell Air Force Base, which was transferred to U.S. Navy control according to BRAC action and renamed Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth / Carswell Field. VF-202 was established on 1 July 1970 as part of Reserve Carrier Air Wing 20 (CVWR-20), the U.S. Atlantic Fleet's reserve carrier air wing, and disestablished on 31 December 1994. During its service VF-202 could be identified by the tail code "AF" and nose numbers (MODEX) "200" through "213."

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFA-125</span> United States Navy aviation squadron

Strike Fighter Squadron 125 (VFA-125), also known as the "Rough Raiders", is a United States Navy strike fighter squadron based at Naval Air Station Lemoore, California. The "Rough Raiders" are a Fleet Replacement Squadron flying the F-35C Lightning II.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Naval Air Station Cecil Field</span>

Naval Air Station Cecil Field or NAS Cecil Field was a United States Navy air base, located in Duval County, Florida. Prior to October 1999, NAS Cecil Field was the largest military base in terms of acreage in the Jacksonville, Florida area.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFC-111</span> Military unit

Fighter Squadron Composite 111 (VFC-111), also known as the "Sun Downers", is a United States Navy Reserve adversary squadron based at Naval Air Station Key West, Florida. Currently, it operates Northrop F-5N/F Tiger-IIs, of which most are single-seater F-5Ns and one twin-seater F-5F, the "FrankenTiger".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Modex</span>

A modex is a number that is part of the Aircraft Visual Identification System, along with the aircraft's tail code. It usually consists of two or three numbers that the Department of the Navy, U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps use on aircraft to identify a squadron's mission and a specific aircraft within a squadron. These numbers are painted conspicuously on the aircraft's nose—or, on helicopters, sometimes on the aft portion of the fuselage or forward portion of the empennage. Modexes are also painted less conspicuously on other aircraft areas. Shore-based aviation units use either two-digit or three-digit modexes, while carrier-based units always use three digits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VFC-204</span> Military unit

Fighter Squadron Composite 204 (VFC-204), also known as the "River Rattlers", is a United States Navy Reserve adversary squadron, slated to fly the F-5N/F Tiger II after having previously flown the F/A-18C/D Hornet. The squadron is based out of Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base New Orleans, Louisiana, and is part of the U.S. Navy Reserve's Tactical Support Wing. Their radio callsign is "River" and their tail code is "AF".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Strike Fighter Wing Atlantic</span> Military unit

Strike Fighter Wing, U.S. Atlantic Fleet (SFWL) is the U.S. Navy's largest type wing with 18 squadrons flying more than 300 aircraft composed of six different variants of the F/A-18 Hornet and Super Hornet. The wing, based at NAS Oceana, is also home to the east coast F/A-18 Fleet Replacement Squadron (FRS) which trains pilots and Weapon Systems Officers (WSOs) in the Hornet and Super Hornet before they are assigned to operational fleet squadrons. The fleet squadrons deploy as part of Carrier Air Wings (CVWs) on aircraft carriers on both the east and west coasts.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">VA-205 (U.S. Navy)</span> Military unit

VA-205, nicknamed the Green Falcons, was an Attack Squadron of the U.S. Naval Reserve, based at Naval Air Station Atlanta, Georgia. It was established on 1 July 1970 and disestablished on 31 December 1994.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Carrier Air Wing Thirteen</span> Military unit

Carrier Air Wing Thirteen (CVW-13) was a carrier air wing of the United States Navy established for a short period at the end of the Cold War. There were three previous units which had been named Carrier Air Group Thirteen (CVG-13), dating as far back as 1942, though each of these units has a distinct lineage.

In 1989, the United States Navy was on the verge of massive cuts to military spending cuts including ship and aircraft procurement. These forces were expected to fight the Soviet Union, Warsaw Pact and other potential adversaries in case of a war breaking out. At this time, the USS Kitty Hawk (CV-63) of the Pacific Fleet was out of commission for Service Life Extension Program (SLEP) modernization leaving the 3rd Fleet with less carriers.

References

  1. 1 2 3 "TSW Operational and Adversary Squadrons Team Up for AACT Training". Naval Air Force Reserve. 3 May 2021. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  2. ↑ Marquez, Arthurgwain L. (2022). "Navy Reserve Force Map" (PDF). The Navy Reservist. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mersky, Peter B. (2016). "A Century of Service, Part II" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Vol. 98. Naval Air Systems Command. pp. 32–41. Retrieved 31 December 2022.
  4. ↑ "VFC-13 Fighting Saints transition to F-16". Scramble. 4 December 2022. Retrieved 30 December 2022.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 Carlson, Ted (2003). "CVWR-20: Firepower in Reserve" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Naval Air Systems Command . Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  6. 1 2 Lemmons, Jeffrey A. (2006). "Carrier Air Wing Reserve 20". The Hook Magazine. Tailhook Association. Archived from the original on 28 September 2007. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  7. 1 2 3 4 5 "Reserves Go Aboard" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Naval Air Systems Command. September 1975. p. 26. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  8. ↑ Irwin, Tom (July 1982). "List of squadrons that flew the F-8 Crusader" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Naval Air Systems Command . Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 5 "The Selected Air Reserve" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Naval Air Systems Command. June 1970. pp. 24–25. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  10. ↑ "VAW/VRC Foundation". VAW/VRC Foundation. VAW/VRC FOUNDATION, INC & READY ROOM. Retrieved 29 January 2023. VAW-207 was based in NAS Norfolk and flew the E-1B aircraft. It was commissioned July 1970 and decommissioned in June 1974. VAW-207 was part of CVWR-20 (CAG-20) with tail letters "AF". When VAW-207 was decommissioned, VAW-78 took its place.
  11. ↑ "The New Naval Air Reserve" (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Naval Air Systems Command. March 1970. pp. 18–19. Retrieved 1 January 2023.
  12. ↑ "For the Record..." (PDF). Naval Aviation News. Naval Air Systems Command. January–February 1993. p. 14. Retrieved 6 January 2023.
  13. ↑ Karavantos, George (16 January 2020). "Florida's 'bad guys'". Key Military. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  14. ↑ Faram, Mark (23 January 2019). "End of an era: Navy's legacy Hornets to fly off into the sunset". Navy Times. sightline media group. Retrieved 29 January 2022.
  15. ↑ OPNAVNOTE 5400 18 Mar 22


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